THE REVIVAL TIMES

The original Lake Garnett Grand Prix was a SCCA sanctioned race from 1959 to 1972.  It is an historic 2.8 mile road course around a fishing lake in the small town of Garnett, KS which was about an hour south of Kansas City.  Many sports car greats raced at Lake Garnett: Dave McDonald, Ken Miles,Don Yenko, Jack Hinkle, Jim Hall, Bob Johnson, Bob Aylward, Toly Arutunoff and KC legends Bob Hindson, Tom Newcomer, Grace Harris, Joe Egle and Woody Woodward among others.  Carroll Shelby brought his factory race team with Cobras 97, 98 and 99 to take on the new...

Due to flooding, this year’s Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival (www.LGGPR.org) was rescheduled for November 9-11. It was a cold weekend (15 degrees at sunrise on Saturday) but three brave KC MG Car Club members took their TCs to the event. Robert Griffey took his ’46 TC, Chris Cassell took his ’47 TC and Russ Sifers took his ’49 TC to run at death defying speeds up to and including 60 mph in the Great Britain Group at noon. Jon Green always brings his ’38 TA but he was out of the country and Cleo Simmonds’ ’48 TC needed carb...

The 2025 Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival Spirit of the Event Award recognizes an outstanding group of individuals and organizations whose dedication helps make the event possible each year. Congratulations to Paul Yeager, Scott Ward, Willie Helms, Rick Feuerborn, TT&T Towing (Mike Topp), the City of Garnett (Kris Hixx), Garnett Fire Department, St. Luke’s Anderson County Ambulance, Jon Mensie, and Rick VanTuyl. This award honors those who give their time, expertise, and support to ensure the revival runs smoothly and safely. From logistics and safety to behind-the-scenes coordination, their efforts reflect the strong community partnership that defines the Lake Garnett...

This newspaper article, written by Dane Hicks and published in The Anderson County Review, highlights the return of the Lake Garnett Grand Prix through the modern-day revival event. The piece captures the excitement surrounding the renewed celebration of Garnett’s racing heritage, connecting today’s community with the historic road races that once drew national attention. Coverage like this reflects the continued local pride and growing interest in honoring the legacy of the original Grand Prix. We appreciate the thoughtful reporting and support in helping share the story of the Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival.

Dear Lake Garnett Grand Prix Registrants: Thank you for your patience while we have sorted out the details on our 2018 event. It was gut-wrenching for us to have to postpone, but after receiving 11” of rain over a 36-hour period (and more intermittent rain over the weekend), the flooding at the track made holding the Revival an impossible proposition. As we previously announced, we have rescheduled this year’s event for Veterans Day weekend, November 9-11, 2018. We realize that an early November event in the Midwest is a roll-of-the-dice, but it’s historically been very pleasant that weekend, so we...

Watching old race footage is like opening a time capsule — one filled with era-specific machines, community spirit, and a speed-hungry enthusiasm that still resonates today. The 1964 Lake Garnett Grand Prix was a testament to how far American road racing had come in just a few short years. Cars were quicker, drivers more experienced, and circuits like Lake Garnett had become beloved gatherings for competitors and fans alike. This original footage preserves that moment — bringing you trackside at a time when sports car racing was still young, vibrant, and deeply local. The Racing Scene in 1964 By the...

We’re excited to officially announce a new partnership that just makes sense for the Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival community. RacingJunk.com has become the Official Online Classifieds of the Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival. For years, RacingJunk.com has been one of the most recognized and trusted online marketplaces in the motorsports world. Racers, builders, collectors, and enthusiasts from every corner of the automotive community have relied on RacingJunk.com to buy and sell race cars, project cars, parts, trailers, and just about anything else related to life at the track. If we’re being honest, many of us involved with the Revival...

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Denny Hale, one of the founding forces behind the Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival. This news comes at a particularly difficult time, as we just  opened registration for the 13th annal Revival. It serves as a reminder that while the Revival continues to grow and evolve, it is built on the dedication, generosity, and vision of people like Denny. In the earliest days, when the Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival was little more than an idea, Denny stepped forward and helped turn that vision into reality. He generously provided...

Grace Harris was from Kansas City and loved racing airplanes and cars. She was the first FAA licensed balloonist. Grace knew Kansas Citian Mastin Gregory. Grace Harris won the 1959 Ladies Group at Lake Garnett in an English Elva MkII made by Frank Nichols. Elva was a corruption of “elle va” meaning “she goes.” Grace Harris won the Women’s Division of the Midwest Region SCCA in 1958, ’59 and ’60. In 1980 she wrote her book “West to the Sunrise” and has a scholarship in her name for female aviation students. Although this is not her car, it is very...

Please join us as we celebrate the life of a man who meant so much to so many. This year would have marked Tracy’s 14th year with the Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival. To honor the passion, dedication, and heart he poured into the Revival, we will be lapping North Lake 14 times. One lap for each year he helped make this incredible event what it is today.  Saturday, August 1 Begin gathering after 2:00 p.m. – Track will close and memorial laps will start at 3:00pm East Shelter House – North Lake, Garnett, Kansas For our LGGPR family, we’ll be parking...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival Introduces New Event Brand Identity Focused on Stewardship, Continuity, and Long-Term Legacy Garnett, Kansas — April 10, 2026 — The Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival has introduced a new visual identity designed to strengthen the event’s foundation while honoring the history, community, and traditions that have defined it for decades. “We want people to feel like they’re stepping into another time for the weekend—and we’re excited for them to experience it for the first time this year.” Rather than pursuing change for novelty, the new identity was developed as a restrained, purpose-driven...

These newspaper clippings capture an important chapter in Lake Garnett Grand Prix history. Pictured are Claude C. Anderson Jr. and James J. Anderson, owners of Anderson Motor Co., photographed in 1963 at their location on 6th and Oak Street in Garnett. Claude C. Anderson Jr. was a continuous member of the Board of Directors of the Lake Garnett Grand Prix and played a pivotal role in elevating the event’s profile. Through his connections, Anderson secured none other than Carol Shelby and his Cobra team to compete at the Lake Garnett Grand Prix. Shelby’s drivers included Ken Miles and Walt McDonald,...

Bob Icenberger raced at Lake Garnett back in the original days. His daughter Valerie connected me with Bob, and we had a fun interview. Bob raced a 1962 Sprite MKII that was coral pink and usually sported the SCCA national number 13. He raced all over: Grain Valley, Texas when Dick Smothers raced there; the airport in Shreveport, LA; War Bonnet in Oklahoma; Hallet when Paul Newman raced there and Bob even visited with Newman; Heartland in Topeka; the Greenwood Raceway in Iowa; an airport at Independence, Kansas; at Des Moines when Art Bunker was racing there with his Porsche;...

Will Toly come back to Lake Garnett for the 60th Anniversary? YES! Toly hopes to return to Lake Garnett and drive his 2002 Qvale Mangusta. Kjell Qvale (pronounced “Shell Kervahley”) was a Norwegian who came to the states and started selling MG TCs in 1947. He later sold Jaguars, Porsches, Rolls Royces, De Tomasos, Maseratis and Lamborginis among other cars. Qvale was responsible for the Jensen Healey, the Pebble Beach Concours and the Corkscrew design at Laguna Seca. When I asked Toly about his favorite race courses he mentioned Targa Florio and Elkhart Lake. Toly also had a major influence...

Nobody fully anticipated what the morning would look like. Cars started arriving early, and despite the printed signs on every approach road, the directions to the track created a problem that nobody had fully planned for. The phones didn’t stop ringing. Confused drivers stacked up on the approach roads, and by the time the committee realized what was happening, there was a two-mile traffic jam backed up toward town. The local police showed up. They were aware of the event and supportive of it, but the message was clear: sort this out, and sort it out fast. They did. The...

The founding group knew immediately that they couldn’t do it alone. The event needed the car club community behind it – not just as participants, but as organizers and owners of the outcome. Darren reached out to every club he could identify, invited representatives to come and sit at the table, and made the case: this is your event too. The response exceeded what any of them had hoped for. On January 14, 2014, the first formal committee meeting was held. The room filled up. Ten clubs sent voting representatives, and a formal organizational structure was elected on the spot....

This feature article, published in Southeast Kansas Living (Spring 2025), highlights the vibrant racing heritage of Garnett and the continued impact of the Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival. The piece captures both the rich history of the original races and the renewed energy surrounding the modern event. Coverage like this helps share the story of Garnett’s motorsport legacy with readers across the region. To discover more stories from Southeast Kansas, subscribe to Southeast Kansas Living and receive each issue in your mailbox: www.sekliving.com. Submitted by Susan Wettstein.

The 1968 Lake Garnett Grand Prix program reflects a later chapter in the original run of races. Its pages document the competitors, schedule, and community partnerships that kept the event thriving. As the racing world continued to evolve, Lake Garnett remained an important venue for drivers and fans alike. Thank you to Susan Wettstein for preserving and sharing this historic program.

The weather was less than perfect this past November, but it still happened.  Due to issues with water over the dam, the 2018 Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival had to be rescheduled to one of the COLDEST NOVEMBER WEEKENDS EVER! Nevertheless, the 5th annual vintage auto event was another huge success thanks to all the volunteers, the Committee Chairs, fans, sponsors and supporters who gave their time to make this event so worthwhile. In past years, LGGPR has donated thousands of dollars to area charities or civic groups, and this year three local organizations reaped the benefits of the 3-day affair.  $500...

Mustang is the featured marque at this year’s event, and organizers of the LGGPR are putting out a call to owners of all years of Boss 302, Boss 351, and Boss 429 Mustangs – in street trim or race versions. Participants and Mustang enthusiasts will be treated to special displays and track groups dedicated to the “World’s Most Popular Ponycar”. Scott Ward, LGGPR President said, “The Mustang crowd has consistently been one of the largest supporting groups at the Revival, and we felt it was fitting to give them the honor of being the featured marque this year, especially since...